Here is a message from the USC Athletic Department to the Trojan Family:
"We can put a man on the moon, but we can't get the Pac-12 Network."
"57 channels and the Trojans aren't on."
We get it. We really do!
To any member of the Trojan Family whose TV provider does not offer the Pac-12 Network and its football broadcasts -- not to mention the hundreds of other offerings featuring more than 20 other sports - we empathize with you.
The passion you have for USC football and all Trojan athletics is shared by the entire Department here and it's that passion, we know, that helps support everything we do.
As frustrating as it is to be forced to choose between switching television providers or missing out on USC broadcasts, this is the decision before you.
USC has been a pillar of every incarnation of what is now the Pac-12 Conference and was in lockstep with the rest of the conference when it decided to ambitiously pursue and create its own network.
We knew there would be a variety of challenges that would come with it, including finding as many platforms as possible to carry the new network. That DirecTV, among a handful of other outlets, has yet to pick up the Pac-12 Network is as disappointing to us as it is maddening to those who subscribe to that service.
A quick look around the constantly evolving television landscape reveals that this kind of dispute is becoming increasingly common between content providers and distributors. The current divide between CBS and Time Warner Cable has resulted in TWC yanking CBS and its affiliates off the cable network, which could cause fans of CBS's SEC and NFL coverage to miss out on watching their favorite teams as well.
With challenges come opportunities. Only with the Pac-12 Network could all 21 Trojan sports get the air time they deserve. The Pac-12 Network has expanded its live event schedule from 550 to 750 this year and while the number of people who have access to these broadcasts is not as large as anyone hoped at this stage, the network continues to grow and has made remarkable progress as it begins only its second year.
We get it. We wish it were easier to give you all of the Trojan games you want. But for any fan that wants to get the most access to USC football and all of its athletics, you know the option exists. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott forcefully addressed the situation on the recent Pac-12 Football Media Day.
For fans interested in switching from DirecTV to another provider that carries the Pac-12 Network, click here for easy-to-follow instructions on how to do it. You can also click here to listen to why USC's Pat Haden (in addition to the rest of the conference's athletic directors) made the switch.
We are also are keenly aware of the obstacles fans face getting to the Coliseum for our Thursday game against Arizona on Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. It will be a challenge for the university (both staff and students), our department, as well as our fans who have to balance work and commutes to get here. A special weplayfor2013.com/thursday website was created to help answer many of the questions you may have for that game.
As part of the Pac-12, the league's new scheduling process requires all schools to host Thursday or Friday night games twice every three years. It is our goal to create a unique game-day experience on these evenings and hopefully you, the fans, will enjoy it as well.
Finally, while kickoff times for six of our 13 games this season already have been announced, we ask for your patience and understanding for the remaining games whose start times have yet to be decided. Â As has been the case in the past, the television networks contractually reserve the right to wait until 12 days before kickoff (and in a few cases, six days) to announce kickoff times. This is done so that each week's most attractive games are slotted into the best viewing times possible.
While this late notice can create havoc for all of us as we make plans to stage or attend games, we all have been able to manage our way through this practice for many years now. Despite the hassles, we know this enables the day's best games--often involving your Trojans--to be shown to the most viewers possible.
Sure, we would prefer stable times known well in advance, but with the variety of outlets and times for our games comes the certainty that every game is televised, something we take for granted now but was not always the case.
Bottom line -- know that we care.
We care about your love of USC and our unparalleled athletic department, about maximizing the exposure for all Trojan sports and about maximizing your enjoyment for every home event you attend. We can't promise that we'll satisfy every last one of you, but that's our goal.
Fight On!
State of USC TV
August 01, 2013 | USC Ripsit Blog
State of USC TV
USC Football defeats Purdue: Lake McRee, Bishop Fitzgerald, Christian Pierce, Waymond Jordan
Saturday, September 13
USC QB Jayden Maiava on Trojans’ Win Over Purdue, Weather Delay, First Road Win of 2025
Saturday, September 13
USC Football vs. Purdue Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 13
Football - USC 33, Purdue 17: Highlights (9/13/25)
Saturday, September 13
